A Conversation With David Wade

In July, news of David Wade’s departure from FOX 25 shocked local news buffs. The Somerville native had been with the station for nearly a decade, and had helped turn its fledgling newscast from a punchline into a powerful force in the ratings. Why would anyone leave that behind?

“I was ready to move on,” Wade told Boston Daily.

And move on he has, to WBZ’s morning and Noon newscasts, where he will begin Monday.

“I had gone from being part of that really obscure team over there to being number one,” Wade continued. “It was a great ride for all of us, but it was like, ‘OK, been there done that.'”

After his departure from the station, Wade went though “contractual hoops” and waited for a few months to start looking for a new gig. During his time off, he spent time with his 2-year-old daughter, and didn’t miss broadcasting until the Red Sox won the World Series.

“When the parade was happening, and I was seeing all these people out there live, I said ‘I should be there on the side of Boylston Street right now, yelling about Jonathan Papelbon.'”

Now that he’s ready to return to the news, Wade hopes to bring WBZ up in the ratings just as he did for Fox 25.

“My goal is to be number one. I want to pump some energy into the mornings. Viewers will get the traffic, the weather, sports, and headlines, but I want to crack some jokes. Give people the big water cooler story of the day. It should be a good time.”

Wade’s quest for ratings dominance may make for some awkward moments at the dinner table. His wife and former colleague, Bianca de la Garza, has been freelancing for WCVB and hopes to get a permanent job at the station.

WBZ’s newest anchor isn’t nervous about delivering the news at an earlier hour, but is a little apprehensive about waking up so early.

“I don’t think I’ve ever woken up at 2:30 in the morning, except for when I was 21 and it was time to go out to the local watering hole,” Wade laughs. “As far as the news itself, I’m far more excited than apprehensive.”